Abhishek Sharma’s Rollercoaster Ride at the T20 World Cup

Abhishek Sharma entered the 2026 T20 World Cup with immense expectations. Having showcased his explosive batting prowess in preceding T20 Internationals, he was widely tipped to be a game-changer for India. However, a sudden illness prior to the tournament disrupted his preparation and ultimately impacted his performance.

Despite feeling unwell – reportedly unable to stand comfortably – Sharma bravely took the field in the opening match against the USA, only to register a first-ball duck. Forced to miss the subsequent game, his confidence appeared to plummet, resulting in a string of low scores. Three consecutive ducks in the group stages followed, punctuated by a scratchy 15 against South Africa. A half-century against Zimbabwe offered a glimmer of hope, but the conditions were conducive to batting for all teams.

Just when his place in the team was under scrutiny, Sharma delivered a stunning performance in the final, smashing a rapid 52 off just 21 balls. This match-winning knock, alongside Samson’s Player of the Tournament-winning displays, highlighted the team’s unwavering faith in their players.

“Not Out of Form, But Out of Runs” – A Philosophy Shared by Leadership

The phrase “not out of form, but out of runs” became a mantra for the Indian team throughout the tournament, initially articulated by head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma when addressing Suryakumar Yadav’s prolonged slump in 2025. Gambhir echoed this sentiment when discussing Abhishek’s difficulties, drawing parallels to his own experiences as a player.

Speaking on JioStar’s ‘Follow the Blues,’ Gambhir recounted a challenging period during the 2014 Indian Premier League season with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite a strong showing in the previous season, he endured a dismal start, registering three consecutive ducks followed by a single run in the fourth match. However, he refused to succumb to pressure and subsequently rebounded with a string of high scores, averaging almost 60 in his next five matches.

“I’ve had a worse experience than him in 2014 during the IPL, when I got three ducks in a row and then another in the fourth game as well,” Gambhir revealed. “All I told him was that people will look at your scores and will talk about your form, but actually you are not out of form; you are just out of runs. The only time you can judge your form is when you have played 20 to 30 balls in the middle, and he hasn’t even faced 20 balls yet.”

The Power of Belief and Aggression

Gambhir emphasized the importance of unwavering support from the team management and dressing room. He explained that his advice to Abhishek was not to dwell on his failures but to embrace a more aggressive approach.

“All I wanted him to do was go out there in the next game and be even more aggressive compared to what he was in the previous game. If you want to hit the first ball out of the ground, go and do it, and commit yourself to it 100 per cent because it really doesn’t matter what the world thinks about you. All that matters is what those 30 people in the dressing room think about you, and that is exactly what should matter to all the boys. There was no doubt whatsoever about Abhishek. For anyone, to be honest, in that dressing room, we always had faith and trust in everyone who was selected to represent the country in the T20 World Cup.”

This approach ultimately paid dividends in the final, where Abhishek’s explosive innings proved pivotal in securing victory for India.

What role does team culture play in helping players overcome difficult periods? And how important is it for a coach to draw on their own experiences to connect with and support their players?

Read more about Gautam Gambhir’s insights into team dynamics and player management here.
See a detailed rating of India’s players’ performances throughout the T20 World Cup.
Explore more in-depth cricket analysis on ESPNcricinfo.
Stay up-to-date with the latest cricket news and schedules on the official ICC website.

Frequently Asked Questions About Abhishek Sharma’s Form